Sony defends white PSP ad

[CptObvious]

hmm, given the fact that it was a dutch ad agency (their ad content is not as regulated as it is here) and that they were paid good money by sony, i don't see how the racial aspect is merely incidental. the biggest ads have always caused some controversy. i highly doubt all the marketing geniuses over there, with their psychology/sociology training, were so naïve as to not see any potential for a reaction in that ad. my bet is they were banking on the controversy to put into people's minds about a white PSP coming out.

 

[BudAshes2]

Originally posted by: randay

Originally posted by: BudAshes
My question is how a billboard in a predominately white country that has a beautiful stereptypical looking white woman grabbing a more homely black woman by the face and says "white is coming" isnt racist. I think political correctness is a pile of sh!t, but this seems pretty racist.

Why is all my printer paper white?


I think its rediculous really. Its an advertisement. If you look deeply(obsession) enough I bet you can find racism in anything. And by you I mean people who are thinking that this ad is purposefully racist.

If the add was a white monster holding down a black monster then that analogy might be relevant. But instead its a white person pushing down a black person in a white country with the text "white is coming". Its racist, no way around it. I have little doubt the sony adwizards knew this add would do well in the market they chose. And i doubt they gave a sh!t about racism because its not a big deal in countries that arent as mixed as the US. Too bad for sony in this day and age of broadband just becuase something is in another country doesnt mean everyone in the world wont see it.

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: BudAshes

Originally posted by: randay

Originally posted by: BudAshes
My question is how a billboard in a predominately white country that has a beautiful stereptypical looking white woman grabbing a more homely black woman by the face and says "white is coming" isnt racist. I think political correctness is a pile of sh!t, but this seems pretty racist.

Why is all my printer paper white?


I think its rediculous really. Its an advertisement. If you look deeply(obsession) enough I bet you can find racism in anything. And by you I mean people who are thinking that this ad is purposefully racist.

If the add was a white monster holding down a black monster then that analogy might be relevant. But instead its a white person pushing down a black person in a white country with the text "white is coming". Its racist, no way around it. I have little doubt the sony adwizards knew this add would do well in the market they chose. And i doubt they gave a sh!t about racism because its not a big deal in countries that arent as mixed as the US. Too bad for sony in this day and age of broadband just becuase something is in another country doesnt mean everyone in the world wont see it.

Where do you see this? In the pic in the link provided by the OP there are no letters. I also dont see any white person pushing down a black person. I see a white person holding the face of a black person, in a way that you would if you wanted someone to look you in the face instead of looking away. Its all about interpretation. I can understand how someone can interpret that picture to be demeaning to black people or racist in some way, but to me, its not at all. I think the real reason here is because its sony doing it.

Whats wrong with marketing by targeting your audience? Companies do it all the time, doesn't mean they are racists. Just because they make an ad that caters to white people doesn't mean that they hate black people. There are a billion advertisements out there that target a specific demographic some way, Like I said if you look hard enough you can make anyone out to be racist or sexist.

 

[randay]

BTW, the white psp has been out in japan for quite some time now, its not as if they are making one just because they hate black people. In fact the ps2 also comes in white as well as many other colors, the original ps2 was also black.

edit: hrmm shoulda just stuck it in my first post, oh well.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: randay

Why is all my printer paper white?

Why is all my printer toner black?

 

[CKent]

Maybe a bit of a stretch, but it's Sony so I hope they burn either way.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
I see Klan robes and burning crosses in the back after I stare at her chest for awhile......subliminal advert?

I see a 3D sailboat. You have to look at it in just the right way.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: Kyanzes
Yeah, it's clear and present racism. Also sue the creators of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and force them to release "Coal Black and the Seven Giants" as a compensation of the pain and suffering it has inflicted on the world.

Coal Black is on the banned list of WB cartoons that have been locked away, FYI.

er...isn't Snow White a Disney cartoon? or did WB buy out Disney?

They're seperate companies, but the WB made Coal Black as a parody of Snow White.

 

[thehstrybean]

Racist? It's purely and obviously communist...

 

[Mermaidman]

The ad shows a white person physically harassing a black person and the whole point of the ad is the color difference of the new PSP. So IMO, the ad has UNINTENDED racist overtones and was not prudent.

Now--if the ad wasn't about the COLOR of the PSP, then I wouldn't have a problem with it.

 

[VanTheMan]

People see what they want to see anywhere they want to see it.

 

[chambersc]

racism is in the eye of the beholder

 

[mercanucaribe]

I'm convinced that you could show ATOT a zip my excellent compatriot cartoon and the typical response would be "wtf how is that racist omg omg it's just a goofy looking black character".
Between the way the white woman is holding the black woman, the appearance of both of them- the white chick looks like some kind of futuristic neo nazi, and the black woman like she's straight off the slave ship, and the "White is coming" text, I don't see how anyone could think it isn't racist. Keep in mind that this is Europe, where racism like that passes a lot more easily than the US and is much much more likely to fly under the radar yet appeal to casually racist young people.

 

[darianandre]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I'm convinced that you could show ATOT a zip my excellent compatriot cartoon and the typical response would be "wtf how is that racist omg omg it's just a goofy looking black character".
Between the way the white woman is holding the black woman, the appearance of both of them- the white chick looks like some kind of futuristic neo nazi, and the black woman like she's straight off the slave ship, and the "White is coming" text, I don't see how anyone could think it isn't racist. Keep in mind that this is Europe, where racism like that passes a lot more easily than the US and is much much more likely to fly under the radar yet appeal to casually racist young people.

I was going to agree with you and point out that this type of discussion is probably what sony wants from an ad and they don't care who is offended in the process, then I saw your sig.

 

[Mo0o]

bullsh1t. if it was teh otherway around it would be "empowering" :disgust:

 

[CanOWorms]

I don't think that it is definitely racist, but racism sells in Europe and the Netherlands is extremely racist. If a European politician is racist, they get votes nowadays. It makes sense for a company to want to increase sales by seizing on this phenomenon and providing an advertising campaign that would appeal to racists who are increasingly becoming the majority of the population.

 

[OSX]

 

[NFS4]

I'm normally against all of this PC bullshizzle and cries of racism, but that ad just rubs me the wrong way

 

[ruffilb]

That ad stupid. I was just about to post this, glad I didn't.

 

[Crescent13]

First a 700 dollar console that is "too cheap for the consumer", then no dualshock, then "everyone will buy it no matter how much it costs", then "the games will cost up to $99.99", and now this. Sony is officially crazy.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: NFS4
I'm normally against all of this PC bullshizzle and cries of racism, but that ad just rubs me the wrong way

Mmm.. rub

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Maybe they would have a point if the white woman was in hood and cloak, with a burning 't' for tolerance, but I just don't see it.

 

[Rock Hydra]

You all fell for this ad. Racist or not, this ad succeeded.

 

[91TTZ]

People need to stop crying. Seriously. Leave your inferiority complexes at the door.

 

[BudAshes2]

Originally posted by: Rock Hydra
You all fell for this ad. Racist or not, this ad succeeded.

Yeah, it succeeded in me losing all respect for sony. Not that they had much left anyway.